This guide is written for people who have been diagnosed with myeloma. It will also be helpful for their families, friends and health professionals. It provides information about how to live well with myeloma by explaining how to cope with the physical symptoms and side effects and practical implications of living with the disease. Being...Continue Reading
“More protest action is on the cards if this government isn’t prepared to give Pharmac more money “, said mother of three Joy Wilkie of Ngati Tarawhai and Ngai Te Rangi descent. She is one of many who suffer from multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer, that weakens the immune system, and compromises...Continue Reading
Multiple myeloma is a disease characterized by the proliferation of plasma cells which can lead to the abnormally high production of monoclonal immunoglobulins, detected in serum and urine. These plasma cells can enter the bone marrow and replace normal myelopoiesis. Up to 90% of patients progress to bone disease, and for this reason effective imaging...Continue Reading
Minimal residual disease status appeared prognostic for PFS at three specific time points for patients with multiple myeloma, according to results of a correlative study. “Converting to minimal residual disease (MRD) negative … does not mean [patients] can stop their therapy, but it does convey a significant association with longer survival and long-term PFS,” Theresa Hahn,...Continue Reading
An investigational BCMA-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, bb2121, appeared safe and effective for previously treated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in a phase 1 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02658929). The trial results were published May 2, 2019, in the New England Journal of Medicine.1 The phase 1 trial, ran by Celgene in collaboration...Continue Reading
Patient advocacy group Myeloma New Zealand has joined forces with other patient groups to petition Parliament to approve funding for state-of-the-art cancer treatments for New Zealanders. Myeloma NZ is petitioning for funding for a suite of six life-extending treatments for multiple myeloma, a deadly, complex blood cancer of malignant plasma cells which is now the...Continue Reading
Originally published on Te ao The Medavivors breast cancer survivors group today took another step towards gaining government funding for cancer treatments for suffering New Zealanders. Breast cancer sufferer Wiki Maholland is as determined than ever to live her life on her own terms. The fight against cancer rages on for these survivors, who say they will...Continue Reading
This story was originally published on RNZ A woman whose husband died of lung cancer last year is delivering a petition to parliament calling on the government to fund more lung cancer medications. Lung cancer is diagnosed in about 2200 New Zealanders a year and more than 1600 people die from it each year. Patricia...Continue Reading
Originally published on Stuff For the past year Wiki Mulholland has been fighting to extend her life – and the lives of others with advanced breast cancer – petitioning for two life-prolonging drugs to be made cheaper. It’s been an uphill fight so far with neither Ibrance and Kadcyla funded by the government’s drug-buying agency, Pharmac. Her sister Racheal Tiuka said it was “inhumane” that a...Continue Reading
Originally published on Newshub More people die in New Zealand of lung cancer than any other cancer. Ironically, it’s also the cancer with the most new, effective drugs available – the problem is they’re not funded here. More than 100 people have marched on Parliament, demanding life-extending drugs be funded for cancer patients. A three-minute...Continue Reading
